Optimal Colour Image Watermarking Using Neural Networks and Multiobjective Memetic Optimization

Abstract

This paper deals with the problem of robust and perceptual logo watermarking for colour images. In particular, we investigate trade-off factors in designing efficient watermarking techniques to maximize the quality of watermarked images and the robustness of watermark. With the fixed size of a logo watermark, there is a conflict between these two objectives, thus a multiobjective optimization problem is introduced. We propose to use a hybrid between general regression neural networks (GRNNs) and multiobjective memetic algorithms (MOMA) to solve this challenging problem. Specifically, a GRNN is used for efficient watermark embedding and extraction in the wavelet domain. Optimal watermark embedding factors and the smooth parameter of the GRNN are searched by a MOMA for optimally embedding watermark bits into wavelet coefficients. The experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves robustness and imperceptibility in watermarking.